holidays

• 
• 12/16/19
  

  Turns out, The Rockettes’ Annual Christmas Spectacular Hasn’t Always Been So Spectacular

  by Isabella DelPino

  The hidden history of the Radio City Rockettes.

• 
• 12/1/2019
  

  How did November become the Mizrahi Heritage Month? And what’s Mizrahi anyhow?

  by Lior Sternfeld and Arie M. Dubnov

  The Mizrahi heritage month is not a local, grassroots initiative that emerged in response to experiences of discrimination or marginalization. Instead, it is a transatlantic importation of recent attempts by the Israeli government to commemorate the forced expulsion of Jews from the Arab and Muslim world in the wake of the establishment of Israel.

• 
• SOURCE: The Conversation
  10/10/10
  

  Why more places are abandoning Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day

  by Malinda Maynor Lowery

  The growing recognition and celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day actually represents the fruits of a concerted, decadeslong effort to recognize the role of indigenous people in the nation’s history.

• 
• SOURCE: The Atlantic
  7/4/19
  

  What to an American Is the Fourth of July?

  by Ibram X. Kendi

  Power comes before freedom, not the other way around.

• 
• SOURCE: The Atlantic
  7/4/19
  

  The Fourth of July Has Always Been Political

  by David Waldstreicher

  The question is which vision of America it’s being used to advance.

• 
• SOURCE: Washington Post
  7/3/19
  

  Why Democrats are wrong about Trump’s politicization of the Fourth of July

  by Shira Lurie

  He’s not doing anything that hasn’t been done for centuries.

• 
• SOURCE: History.com
  5/28/19
  

  One of the Earliest Memorial Day Ceremonies Was Held by Freed Slaves

  At the close of the Civil War, freed slaves in Charleston honored fallen Union soldiers.

• 
• SOURCE: Washington Post
  4/20/19
  

  Vermont passes bill abolishing Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day

  The state is one signature away from abolishing Columbus Day altogether and permanently recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

• 
• SOURCE: Salon
  3/17/19
  

  On St. Patrick's Day, remember how anti-immigrant history repeats itself

  33 million Americans claim Irish heritage and yet we have not learned from 19th century nativism. 

• 
• SOURCE: ABC News
  3/8/19
  

  International Women's Day went from bloody revolution to corporate breakfasts

  The radical history behind International Women's Day. 

• 
• SOURCE: The Conversation
  2/13/19
  

  The ‘real’ St. Valentine was no patron of love

  by Lisa Bitel

  Many scholars have deconstructed Valentine and his day in books, articles and blog postings. Some suggest that the modern holiday is a Christian cover-up of the more ancient Roman celebration of Lupercalia in mid-February.

• 
• SOURCE: NBC News
  1/23/19
  

  Historians on The Political Misuses of King's Legacy

  Year after year, notable figures and institutions attempt to recast Martin Luther King Jr. as champion of causes that don't align with his legacy.

• 
• SOURCE: Washington Post
  1/21/19
  

  On MLK Day, descendants of Lee, Stonewall Jackson urge Va. to halt Confederate tributes

  Descendants of two Confederate generals appeared in the Virginia Senate on Monday to show their support for Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, who days earlier sat out a Republican senator’s ode to Robert E. Lee.

• 
• SOURCE: Newsweek
  1/21/19
  

  Julian Zelizer blasts Pence for comparing Donald Trump to MLK

  Zelizer said the Trump administration is "antithetical to absolutely everthing" King fought for. 

• 
• SOURCE: Philadelphia Inquirer
  1/21/19
  

  On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, remembering the women civil rights leaders left out of spotlight

  “Women were at the forefront of the civil rights struggle, but their individual stories were rarely heard."

• 
• SOURCE: CNN
  1/20/19
  

  Pence's shocking use of Martin Luther King's words

  by Julian Zelizer

  As we've seen, nothing about this administration resembles King's ideals.

• 
• SOURCE: Black Perspectives
  1/21/19
  

  Martin Luther King Jr. on Making America Great Again

  by Justin Rose

  How the nation chooses to define greatness will have grave implications. 

• 
• SOURCE: Washington Post
  1/15/19
  

  The story of how Michael King Jr. became Martin Luther King Jr.

  A look at the civil rights leader’s childhood name change

• 
• 1/20/19
  

  Ibram X. Kendi: Remember Dr. King's Nightmare This MLK Day

  by Kyla Sommers

  How historians can be inspired by remembering the radical and realist Dr. King.

• 
• 1/20/19
  

  Dr. King's Legacy and Nuclear Disarmament

  by William Lambers

  Few people know Dr. King was also an activist for nuclear disarmament and urged peace during the Cold War nuclear arms race.